PERTH (miningweekly.com) – The Western Australian government has announced that the Mining Rehabilitation Fund (MRF) will undergo a review to ensure it met all its objectives, and that sufficient funding was available for the initiative.
The MRF Act was created to ensure the mining industry is financially responsible for restoring existing and abandoned mine sites, instead of Western Australian taxpayers.
Western Australian tenement holders, except those under State Agreements, are required to pay an annual levy to the fund, with contributions based on the level of ground disturbance on the tenement.
A statutory panel monitors the MRF financial reserves and levy contribution rate to ensure they meet current and emerging rehabilitation liabilities.
The MRF also provides funds to address legacy mine sites and is currently supporting the Safer Shafts for Towns project that remediates risks close to regional communities.
“The government remains committed to achieving a successful balance between robust environmental standards and a strong and dynamic resources sector,” said Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill Johnston.
“We will continue to work with industry and the community to ensure we deliver best practice mine rehabilitation outcomes for our State.
“The MRF’s support of abandoned mines, like Ellendale (diamond mine), are invaluable as it helps to assess risks and identify any remediation works to benefit the local community.”